Johannesburg – South Africa's Used Car Industry shows the latest figures for July 2025 show year-on-year (Yoy) and month-on-month (MOM).
This growth reflects the ongoing trends in the renewed consumer trust and resilient second-hand car market.
The top five bestselling used cars are not being challenged by new candidates.
However, the bottom half of the top 10 shows some minor shifts, indicating a shift in the way used car buyers think about South Africa.
Based on the latest sales data from AutoTrader, 33,919 used cars were sold in July 2025, representing a mother's increase of +7% and +9.4%, respectively.
This marked the strongest sales period in 2025 last month, with consistent rises over the past few months.
In June, sales were recorded at 31 008 compared to 31,741 in May.
Before looking into the sale of a particular model and variant, it is worth reviewing the most popular used car brands in July 2025.
As expected, Toyota holds the enviable No. 1 ranking, with 5,878 used cars on sale last month.
Japanese automakers also recorded the largest mama increase of +13%, while Yoi's sales increased by +7%.
Volkswagen ranked second in sales of 4 638 used cars, recording smaller, steady profits, year-over-year at +7% moms and +5%.
Ford took third place with 304 sales, showing a solid mom increase of +12%, but only a modest +3% front rise.
Hyundai brought the strongest overall growth in July, with an impressive year-over-year increase of +49% and 2,416 sales.
Suzuki also performed very well, recording a 41% increase from the previous year.
Not all the top 10 brands are shared on the upward trend.
Premium Marquez BMW and Mercedes saw a year-over-year decline of -2% and -12% respectively, while Nissan, Renault and KIA also declined.
Toyota leads at the brand level, but Ford surpasses the charts at the model level, with 2025 units of Ranger on sale last month.
The Ranger not only accounted for 56% of all Ford sales, but also suspended its closest rival, the Toyota Hilux, with 389 units.
Hilux recorded 1,636 sales, followed by Polo (1,400), Polo Vivo (1,322) and Toyota Fortuner (815).
The bottom half of the top 10 reveals a significant shift.
Previous regular entries like the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class are absent, replacing them with smaller, more affordable crossovers and hatchbacks.
Suzuki Swift increased 34.5% year-on-year, while Hyundai Grand I10 experienced all growth, with sales surged by +116.7% year-on-year.
Other popular models include the Toyota Starlet and Corolla Cross, reflecting a growing preference for practical, fuel-efficient hatchbacks and crossovers.
It is worth noting that seven of the top 10 best-selling models are manufactured in South Africa.
“The evolving dynamics of the South African used car market underscore the way mature consumers think about balancing reliability with wise economic choices,” commented George Mienie, CEO of AutoTrader.
“The sustained popularity of robust workholes like Rangers emphasizes enduring demand for utility and durability, while the rapid growth of compact, locally manufactured models indicates a broader shift towards accessibility and everyday practicality.”
Mienie added that this balance suggests that the second-hand car market is not only resilient, but also responds to the diverse needs of South African consumers.
“This reflects both economic realities and changing lifestyle preferences.”
In July 2025, the used car market showed the following key figures:
The cumulative value of used cars reached R141 billion, representing a +8.67% increase in mamas from June 2025 (R129.8 billion). The average price for a used car was R415 983, down from R418,770 in July 2025, but exceeded the average R409 238 in July 2024. The average mileage fell from 75,227 km in July 2024 to 73,579 km in July 2025.
The Ranger is South Africa's most successful used car and has been so for months, but the bestselling variant title belongs to the Polo Vivo 1.4, with 1,037 sold in July 2025, accounting for 78.4% of all Polo Vivo sales.
The affordable hatchback is followed by the Polo 1.0 TSI (879), Hilux 2.8 GD-6 (723), Ranger XL (664), and Hilux 2.4 GD-6 (555).
The Ford Ranger held its lead as a South African top-selling used car in July 2025, with 2025 units being sold, followed by the Toyota Hirax and Volkswagen Polo.
AutoTrader data shows continuous strong demand for Bakkies and compact hatchbacks.
